Kireedam bridge's tale is as tragic as the movie
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There may be hundreds of bridges like it in Kerala, but the resemblance ends there. This small bridge on Vellayani lake in Thiruvananthapuram district shot to fame in 1989 with the release of the Mohanlal-starrer 'Kireedam.'
Since then it has been known locally as 'Kireedam Paalam.' In 2014, the bridge again made news after the State Human Rights Commission ordered the state government to repair it. Three years later, the old bridge, which is in a dilapidated state, back in the news again.
On Monday, the commission has pulled up the Works Department and the local panchayats for not heeding its order. P Mohanadas, acting chairperson, State Human Rights Commission has instructed the Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads and Bridges), and the secretary, Kalliyoor grama panchayat, to submit reports within one month on the action taken to restore the bridge.
The commission order was based on a complaint filed by social worker Santhivila Padmakumar the authorities had ignored the 2014 order.
The small bridge, the commission noted, is an important lifeline for the residents of Punchakkari, Vandithadam and Melangode. In 2014, Padmakumar had approached the commission requestion urgent action for restoring the bridge. At the time, the bridge was in a really bad condition, and despite it hundreds of people continued to use it. Even the handrails of the bridge were broken.
On June 2, 2014, the commission issued instructions to the District Collector to effect repairs at the earliest. At the time, the district administration had reportedly informed the commission the bridge was in a too bad state for repairs.
The best option would be to build a new one in its place. Recently, Padmakumar approached the commission again pointing out no action has been taken so far to address the issue.